Racism seen in teaching of NZ’s history
Underlying racism is dictating how New Zealand’s history is being taught in schools, Parliament’s Ma¯ ori affairs select committee has heard.
It is up to schools how much colonial history is taught but teachers have called on the Government to change the way the children are taught history to better represent Ma¯ ori.
The plea comes after Northcote College history teacher and NZ History Teachers’ Association chair Graeme Ball told MPs at a June briefing that there was no data on what was being taught in schools, which could be fixed if the subject was compulsory.
However, Canterbury University school of teacher education senior lecturer Dr Richard Manning said at this week’s select committee hearing that compulsion was ‘‘distracting from the real elephant in the room, and that is racism’’.
Manning said teachers were not providing students with a well-rounded history if they did not teach Ma¯ ori perspectives on New Zealand’s history through the curriculum.
‘‘We’re not necessarily fans of compulsion but it just seems like it is the simplest thing to do.’’
Difficulties arose because of ‘‘perceived white backlash’’.
He had encountered history teachers who pushed back on teaching Ma¯ ori history, saying it was ‘‘all political correctness’’.
‘‘This is well documented ... but we would question the professionalism of those teachers who would hide behind that excuse when we have this code of standards.’’
Many teachers were striving to teach Ma¯ ori heritage, history and language but when others actively chose not to, central Government needed tools to audit schools.
‘‘That, for me, is a hole in the legislation, that’s the gap.
‘‘I don’t buy the argument that it’s that difficult. It is not that difficult to teach about our histories.
‘‘There’s plenty of support out there. There’s plenty of resources, and the guidelines give us the permission to do that. I think there are some hard conversations that have to be had.’’
Canterbury University school of Ma¯ ori and indigenous studies senior lecturer Garrick Cooper said thorough teachings of New Zealand’s history needed to be offered to children to produce ‘‘fully grounded, informed students for the 21st century’’.
Ma¯ ori affairs select committee chair MP Rino Tirikatene said he was keen to look at ways the legislation and codes could keep teachers accountable when teaching New Zealand’s history.